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APPLICATION FILED JAN-15.1916.

RENEWED DEC. 9. I920.

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FRANK V. BURTGN, 03E BBIDGEPORT, CQIQ'NIECTZGUT, ASSEQNOR TO THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BRTDG-EIORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- NECTICUT.

ATTACHMEI l'T-PLUG REGEPTACLE.

eer-3,152.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patned J 11 1921 Application filed January 15, 1916, Serial No, 72,319. Renewed. December 9, 1920. Serial No. 429,584.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK V. BURTON, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing at Brid eport, in the county of Fairlield and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and Improved Attachment-Plug Receptacle, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to attachment plug receptacles and particularly to a receptacle adapted to cooperate with attachment plugs which have their jacks in different relative arrangements. The object of my invention is to provide a receptacle in which the terminal means comprises contacts of opposite polarity and the same potential so arranged within the area defined by a single cooperating plug, that within this prescribed area means are aiiorded to receive jacks of dil ierent relative arrangement.

In the accompanying drawing which shows a single embodiment of my inven-- tion,

Figure 1 is a cross section through an outlet box showing the present receptacle mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the receptacle alone;

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the same with the terminal means of one polarity removed;

Fig. a is a vertical section on the line 14, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective of one of the terminals.

For simplicity of illustration and explanation, my invention has been shown in the accompanying drawing in a receptacle of the flush type, but it is to be understood that the invention may be applied to receptacles of any desired type such as current taps associated with sockets, switches or other elec tric fittings to which the invention is applicable. Referring to Fig. 1, an outlet box 10 of usual construction is here illustrated pro' vided with inwardlyextending tapped cars 11. The receptacle body 12 of insulating material of any suitable sort carries, at its opposite ends, lugs 13 through which pass the screws 14; by means of which the receptacle is secured to the ears 11 of the outlet box. These lugs 13 are tapped at 15 to receive the screws 16 which hold the face plate 17 in position above the outlet box. This cover plate is centrally apertured to receive a circular boss 18 on the upper face of the receptacle which fits substantially flush with the face plate and positions the latter with relation to the receptacle.

On diagonally opposite corners of the receptacle are depressed ledges 19 on which are seated the wire terminals 20 and 21, the securing screws 22 and 23 or which pierce the base 12 and connect the terminals to straps 24: and 25 let into the lower face of the base. Additional securing screws 26 and 27 may be provided to mechanically secure these straps in position on the base.

ll ithin the area of the boss 18 the receptacle is pierced by four holes 28, 29, 30 and 31 to accommodate the terminal contacts and to form guides for the jacks of a cooperating attachment plug. These terminals, as here shown, comprise for each pole of the receptacle, a pair of blades 32, 33 and 34c, 35. One pair of terminal blades is mounted upon strap 24, and the other pair upon strap 25. Preferably these blades are formed of spring sheet metal, and each is provided with an offset base secured to its appropriate strap by a rivet 36. The arrangement of the blades and their corresponding slots in the receptacle is such that they aflord pairs of receiving terminals of opposite polarity, one pair, viz. 32 and 34:, lying substantially in tandem, while the other pair, viz. 33 and 35 lie substantially in parallel. The receiving terminal means afforded by the present receptacle, within the area of a single cooperating attachment plug, thus constitutes pairs of receiving contacts, both pairs being of the same potential, adapted to receive the jacks of a cooperating plug, Whether the jacks of the latter are arranged in parallel to engage the terminals 33 and 35, or in tandem to engage the terminals 32 and 34L.

It is obvious that this construction is of great commercial utility, since both types of plugs are common upon the market. Moreover, it is a common practice for manufacturers or" portable, electrically driven apparatus of various types utilized for domestic or other se'vice to supply this apparatus with the leading-in cable and an attachment plug, but without a receptacle. Since some manufacturers adopt a plug with parallel jacks, and other manufacturers adopt one with tandem jacks, it necessitates for the user either a duplication of independent receptacles, or the substitution of a difierent type of plug for that purchased with the apparatus, in order that the latter may be utilized with that special type of receptacle which the user may happen to have already installed. By the novel arrangement of the receiving terminals of the present receptacle, the latter is rendered substantially universal in its utility,a feature of economy and convenience which will be readily recognized.

In the particular embodiment of the invention here shown, the receptacle is of a construction particularly economical, since the body 12 constitutes but a single block of insulation. Thestraps at and may be struck from sheet metal and the contacts 32 to are readily secured thereon by riveting, while the straps and their associated contacts may be assembled upon the receptacle body by unskilled labor at a very low cost. The receptacle may therefore be marketed at a cost less than that now prevalent for receptacles of ordinary type, while at the same time the present article has a greatly enhanced utility and convenience.

As above stated, I do not limit my invention to flush receptacles of the type shown, since it may be applied to receptacles of any type with which attachment plugs are intended to cooperate. The precise details of construction, even in the type shown, may be variously modified without departing from what I claim as my invention.

of said straps and entering the guideways.

in the block, said terminals being arranged to cooperate with an attachment plug having its jack lying either substantially in tandem or substantially in parallel.

2. An attachment plug receptacle comprising an insulating block pierced within the area defined by a cooperating attachment plug, to afford guidewa'ys for the jacks of a cooperating attachment plug, straps of opposite polarity mounted on the inner face of said block and receiving terminal means mounted on each or" said straps and entering the guideways in the block, said terminals being arranged to cooperate with an attachment plug having its jacks lying either substantially in tandem or substantially in parallel. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK V. BURTON.

W'itnesses:

G. W. GooDRIDGE, H. M. WICHERT. 

